Watching right now...

"I made my family disappear:)"

We are watching Home Alone on TV right now!  This one is such a classic, and I especially love the part when Culkin is watching "Angels With Filthy Souls" (you know... "keep the change, you filthy animal!"), and calls out for his mom to stop him, because he is eating junk and watching rubbish!  Precocious little ankle-biter:)  This movie also has the best holiday soundtrack ever, in case you need to get into the mood...

Hope you are all watching fun holiday movies this week! 

Get ready!

Good Hair Day

Hey all!  I just watched a very entertaining, if somewhat surprising, film from the 1970's.  The film was described as a comedy, but I actually found it to be a little depressing.  I reckon that I should chat about this new flick, and also mention another fabulous hair- themed film that is a favorite of mine, just in case you find yourself in the mood for a new 'do.  I am constantly changing mine, much to my own dismay, so let's see what you think:

Tonight's pick:

*Shampoo (1975), written, produced, and starring Warren Beatty, alongside Goldie Hawn, Julie Christie, and a very young Carrie Fisher (only in a small role, but still very sassy:).  This movie follows the shenanigans of the James Bond of hair-stylists... Beatty is a very talented hairdo artist in Cali, and his girlfriend is completely unsuspecting of his scandalous secret lifestyle.  Not only does he do everybody's hair in town, but he also does something else with everybody in town (wink, wink, nudge, nudge:).  Frankly, I don't see the attraction.  His hair was totally crazy in the movie, and I have never understood men's fashion from the 1970's.  The women, on the other hand, looked great, and I feel the need to completely re-think my holiday style with a more groovy theme:)  There is poetic justice for our hero in the end, and he has to sleep in the bed that he has made, but the women really get off scott-free.  I am just not sure how I feel about this one, but if you want to see one of the AFI's 100 funniest movies, then check it out.

Suzy's Favorite Hair-Themed Film:

*Blow Dry (2001), directed by Paddy Breathnach, and starring the amazing Alan Rickman (whom I have loved dearly since early adolescence:), Billy Nighy, and Natasha Richardson (also has Rachel Griffiths, Rachael Leigh Cook, Josh Hartnett and Heidi Klum... you can't beat the cast with a stick:).  This film covers the competitive world of hair-styling in Great Britain, and the lengths that the fellas involved go to in order to win fame and fortune:)  It is hilarious!  The real bad-ass is Rickman (of course), the former champion, who has ceased competition after a bad break-up, but who could cut hair like nobody's business (he even sports a tattoo on his foot of some golden scissors with a lightening bolt!  So hot right now...).  I love this movie so much, and I often enjoy it while my son takes his afternoon nap.  It makes me all excited to fix my hair, and strut around my crappy neighborhood:)  This is a real winner, and one that I know you will get a lot of laughs out of:)  

P.S.  Just one suggestion... completely  disregard Josh Hartnett in the film... his fake british accent is painful, and should not be endured or tolerated!

My daily date with Shrek...

Do you remember my post about my daily date with Tarzan?  Well, the little man has now had a 4-day streak of requesting Shrek!  I am all for a little variety, and I am also very proud of my little man's fine taste in children's film.  He seems to really know when a movie has some level of interest for me, also:)

If you haven't seen Shrek (2001) (there may be 2 or 3 of you out there that fall into this category:), then you are really missing out on a great one.  The soundtrack is awesome, and my son sings the tunes all the time now (it is pretty affecting to hear your almost-two-year-old sing that Rufus Wainwright song, "Hallelujah", I will admit:).  I love the sassy donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy, and all of his fabulous allusions to adult humor (he also sings some pretty good tunes).  The characters all have famous voices, such as Mike Myers, John Lithgow, Vincent Cassel, and Cameron Diaz, as "Princess Fiona".  The princess is a perfect example of another really great aspect to this movie (the story and characters completely defy fairy tale norms)... She is really fun, and an ogre, and she rescues the fellas just as much as they rescue her, which is a switch from your typical Disney princess:)  I have to say, the best part of all is right at the end... the entire cast of characters erupts into a wild dance party, performing songs and group dance numbers that rival any Broadway show (as far as my son in concerned:).  They sing excerpts from "Like A Virgin", "Baby Got Back", "So Happy Together", "Dance to the Music", and "Feelings", just to name a few:)  I hope that you rediscover this modern classic, and that your kids like it as much as I... I mean, my son, does! (oh, yeah!  and check out the sequels, too!)

Movies for my Dad, who likes movies...

As I may have previously mentioned, my entire family loves movies.  It would be a typical day at home for us all to sit together, curled up on couches with blankets, and simply watch movie after movie.  My dad is having some surgery today, so I decided to write about some of his favorite movies that he made me watch as a kid, and that subsequently became some of my favorites, too.  My dad's type of movie usually center around a real bad-ass being tough, or comedic genius of former SNL fame.  They certainly are "movies for guys who like movies", but I like them, too, so I hope that you enjoy some of Dr. G's pics:

1) Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), starring Mel Gibson, back in the days of his Australian accent.  The best thing about this flick is Tina Turner, who plays a tough survivor of post-apocalyptic society, and who also, coincidentally, sings the main theme music.   I can't tell you how many mornings I awoke to the sweet strains of, "We Don't Need Another Hero", as my dad performed his morning weight-training:)  

2) The Jerk (1979), directed by Carl Reiner, and starring Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters.  My uncle took my dad to see this one for his bachelor party:)  It is hilarious, and Steve Martin has some amazing lines in this one.  Pure 1970's-SNL-Martin Schtick:)

3) Caddyshack (1980), directed by Harold Ramis (aka. Egon), and starring the incomparable Bill Murray and Chevy Chase.  I know that you have all seen this one, and that most of you love it, so I will just tell you that I always enjoy that gopher ("I'm all right, don't nobody worry 'bout me!"), and that I have always wanted to master zen-golf:)

4) Conan the Barbarian (1982)/ Conan the Destroyer (1984), starring Herr Arnold Schwarzenegger, right smack-dab in his hey-day of pumping steel.  My dad loved the books that these films were based on, written by Robert E. Howard, but I know that it didn't hurt that the flicks also starred Herr Arnold.  These films are classic, complete with a deity named "Krom", and James Earl Jones turning into a snake.  I think that is a real crowd pleaser, and certainly appropriate for 5-year-old girls (we might have been even younger than that, when first exposed to Herr Arnold:)

5) Ben-Hur (1959), directed by William Wyler, and starring Chuck Heston:)  This one is truly remarkable, and won 11 Academy Awards, so it isn't just me.  The chariot race alone is really a cinematic feat-of-strength, and the story is so epic... I mean, it is Charlton that we are talking about here.  Another crazy moment for little girls... Ben-Hur rowing in the galleys of a prison ship for years, while his fellow prisoners die off around him ("Ramming speed!").  Very intense, Dad.  Thanks for that one:)

6) A Fistful of Dollars (1964)/ For A Few Dollars More (1965)/ The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), directed by Sergio Leone, and starring the ever-studly Clint Eastwood.  My dad enjoys a good western, as do I, and the famous spaghetti-westerns that were inspired by the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa are true grit.  A Fistful of Dollars copies the storyline of Yojimbo (1961), the Kurosawa film about a wandering samurai that settles a long- standing dispute while passing through a town.  Like Eastwood, Yojimbo settles the dispute by being tougher than everyone else:)  The short cigar, the long gun, the poncho, and the man with no name were the perfect recipe for cool.  

Thanks for the education, Dad:)  I hope that you enjoy some good movies while you recuperate!!

Cary Grant is Always a Good Idea...

Dashing, dapper, witty, charming, urbane... the list goes on and on, my friends.  I believe that you would be hard-pressed to find a Cary Grant film that is not completely fantastic, but as I must be brief, I am reviewing my two favorites (coincidentally, these were two of Grant's later films, very near his retirement in 1966).  Cary Grant (aka. Archibald Alexander Leach), was born in Bristol, England in 1904, and married 5 times.  He also was influential in the modelling of Ian Flemming's famous character, James Bond.  You may have heard of that one:)  

I adore Cary Grant (his style, his humor, his polish), and as I didn't quite enjoy the film that I viewed this evening (the 1973 production of Godspell, starring Victor Garber... weird.), I figured that I would discuss a master.  I will introduce the topic, and please, talk amongst yourselves...

Charade (1963), directed by Stanley Donen, and also starring the fabulous and iconic Audrey Hepburn, is a hilarious and romantic mad-cap race.  Despite the disparity in their ages, these two actors are so stylish and gorgeous together, and they make a great comedic team, creating one of their (respectively) best films ever.  I especially love Hepburns constant attempts to seduce Grant, and his unshakable finesse, despite near-death experiences and the constant threat of Walter Matthau (clearly a vicious villain:).   This is a perfect combination of comedy, suspense and romance (please never mention the ridiculous remake of this film in my presence... I dare not speak it's name!!), and I know it will be a timeless favorite for anyone who sees it!!  After discussing this one, I may have to pick up and move to Europe... 

Father Goose (1964), directed by Ralph Nelson, and starring a gorgeous and very flexible Ms. Leslie Caron (alongside Mr. C.G., of course:).  This movie is truly laugh-out-loud, and another May-December romance for Mr. Grant.  Grant's privacy and independence are invaded by a French schoolmistress and her charges on an isolated island during WWII.  They try to reform the impossible, yet ridiculously attractive, Mr. Eckland, but end up falling prey to his charms, just like everyone else:)  Oh, Cary Grant... you are wonderful.  Plus, I love Leslie Caron.  I know, I know, I always love the actresses who are ballet dancers (A. Hepburn, Caron, Cyd Charisse, etc.), and I really hate when they make these modern "dance" movies, starring some simpering young actress who has studied hip-hop, or some other such nonsense, passing over the bazillions of ballerinas who are brilliant and perfectly turned-out...  sorry, I am a ballet teacher, and I care about these things:)  Anywho, definitely choose these flicks over Save the Last Dance or Flashdance.  These chickas can really point their toes:)

Frances McDormand strikes again!

May I just say, that I love Frances McDormand?  I think that she is completely wonderful, and talented, and hilarious.  I want to give you all a very happy review of a flick that I just enjoyed, and also add a small homage to the lady herself (in manner of my top-McDormand flicks list:), so here goes:

* Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008), starring the great F.McD., Amy Adams, and the dashing Ciaran Hinds (I loved him in Persuasion!!!).  This is a delightful movie, complete with both youthful and mature-aged romances, 1940s glamour, and really great music.  It is definitely light and fluffy, but don't we all need that sometimes?  So, if you are looking for a Cinderella-story, set in barely-pre-WWII London, starring a fabulous and deserving heroine, then look no further!!!

Now, for a few of my favorite McDormand roles (all of which are directed and written by those fabulous Coen Brothers).  You may or may not have heard of Joel Coen, of the Coen Brothers fame?  Well, you should have.  You should also know that Joel Coen is the lucky husband of one, Ms. Frances McDormand:)  :

1)  Fargo (1996), obviously.  This is a fantastic dark comedy, and I really love the exposure to an under-appreciated accent of our great country...the "North Dakota".  I feel like I am saying "Yah, Yah" constantly after watching this film:)  McD. also won the Best Actress Academy Award for this one, folks.  That's right.  She is the best!

2) Raising Arizona (1987),  Suffice it to say, that in a movie full of brilliance and brilliant actors, McDormand steals the spotlight completely with her role as Dot, the mother of many awful children, all who have had their Dip-tet:) 

3) The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), perhaps not as widely hyped as other Coens-masterpieces, but nonetheless, an amazing film.  McD. shines as the wife of a very introspective Billy Bob Thornton.  Not-to-be-missed:)

4) Others to see:  Burn After Reading, Barton Fink, Miller's Crossing, and Blood Simple.  All Coens', all McD's, all great.  'Nuff said.

Election Day!!!

Let's get this election over-with already!!  I am immersing myself in fun, imaginary presidential candidates today, as we wait in anticipation of reality:)  Please, release your baited breath, and peruse some viewing options on this, the day of election:

1) The American President (1995), directed by Rob Reiner, and starring the always dashing Michael Douglas, and his equally stunning leading lady, Annette Bening.  A classic romantic comedy, both well written and acted, and full of the charisma of old- Hollywood standards, this movie will always be fun to watch.  Why can't real politicians be this upstanding and honorable?  

2) Dave (1993), directed by Ivan Reitman (of Ghostbusters fame), and starring Kevin Kline (whom I adore), and Sigourney Weaver.  Why does the U.S. President inspire so many romantic comedies?  Anywho, this is a really good one, and Kevin Kline is hilarious.  I especially enjoy the dastardly cabinet member (yes, dastardly), and I actually do believe that every cabinet must have at least one super-villain.

3) Air Force One (1997), directed by Wolfgang Petersen (you gotta love the name Wolfgang), and starring Harrison Ford, who is my personal pick for President of the United States, 2008.  I really think that you guys should get behind this candidate.  He is completely badass, and studly, and I also imagine that he is both a champion of civil rights and education, and an avid environmentalist.  Is this fantasy too much to ask?  If so, then just enjoy this action-packed thrill-ride of a movie.

4) Election (1999), directed by Alexander Payne, and starring Mathew Broderick (who needs to do something with himself these days!), and Reese Witherspoon (who kind-of annoys me).  This uproarious dark comedy follows the mental breakdown of a high-school principal, as he becomes overly involved in the student elections.  Witherspoon is the neurotic, obsessed-with-ambition-and-perfection student that drives Broderick to the brink, and many antics ensue throughout that will leave you very amused, I am sure.  

Please vote today, and remember to add Douglas, Kline, and Ford to your ballot!